Great Expectations

Expectations. All of us have them.  Good or bad it's part of realizing the outcome of any given situation.  To never have expectations or only have gReAt expectations is short sited.  All of us have to be realistic and know that there will be times when life is disappointing.  There is the day your kid didn't make the team.  Your daughter didn't get that part in the play that she tried out for.  You didn't get the job you were assured was yours at the end of the interview.  That dream you dreamt as a child has not come to fruition and your birthdays keep coming.  Ouch.  Reality.  Many times we want to get angry and someone or some thing that seems to stand in our way of what we perceive as happiness.  Ive been there.  I'm sure you have too.  

Do i let myself get SO busy that I am come to a new day, a struggle or a even a joy- unprepared? What I mean by this- is have I really spent one-on-one time with the One i claim to have given Lordship over my life?  Sadly, there are many days I have looked to people and things and dreams to fill my soul, instead of the only One capable of doing that.  Then when something turns sideways in my day I am not ready to stop, listen and pray.  My mind starts racing and my tongue starts lashing out and I'm not ready to be obedient.  I may comply but remain confused and angry because my motives are bowing to MY expectations.  What part do i play in allowing God to increase my faith giving me the ability to stand committed to obey?  

In looking at scripture there are 2 people I'd like to mention because they both had a great way of dealing with unmet/fragmented expectations.  In Genesis 22 God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.  I don't think Abraham was expecting this!! This was the son born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age and was the promised child that many nations would come from.  Abraham did not waver but took his son, bound him and prepared to sacrifice him.  WOW! What awe inspiring obedience Abraham had that he would do whatever God asked of him, even if he didn't understand.  He expected that God would provide a way.  When my expectation is that my life has to go a certain charted course I leave no room for what God has planned for me.   The book of Ruth also supplies ample examples of living in God's will and thriving when difficult things come and dreams are unfulfilled.  Ruth lost her husband, was childless and did not choose to go back to her hometown and family but stayed with a bitter mother-in-law that she would end up helping support financially. Im sure on her wedding day Ruth did not expect this to be her lot. YIKES! So what did she do?  Ruth changed her expectations for her current situation and moved ahead seeking God and what His will was thereby believing and raising her expectations of God and what He would do in her life.  She had learned (somehow... I really want to talk to her someday in heaven) that God was faithful and her trust was put in Him, not how life looked at the moment.  And bonus- she did NOT complain about it. 

Oh my I have a lot to learn still.  Changing my perspective so that it's broader than my little world.  I'm thankful that God doesn't quit on me, ignore me or leave me behind when I am weak and struggling.  He knows my heart. He knows I have expectations.  In response i need to be realistic in my outlook; understanding that when i obey and trust His plan it will far exceed my own expectations.

                                    

Another birthday

It's Wednesday, but Friday's coming.  The middle of work week. (hump day) Your school week has started the slide toward weekend.  Fall is here and November tells us another year is about to be crossed off of that enormous calendar on God's kitchen wall.  I've been thinking about this a lot more recently.   It's cliche to mention but the older I get... the faster time flies.  As I approach another birthday I can't help but wonder about this next season of life. Right here in the middle of my life it is sanguine joy (and nail biting)  to watch our children learning how to be married and how to be parents.  Then there is the bonus of getting to be a grandparent.  

Another advantage is The PrEaCher and I are able to spend time together like never before. To go on weekend getaways, take Sunday naps, and to eat out somewhere besides Cici's or McDonalds.  After all that's pretty hard to accomplish when you are busy raising seven kids and are insuring a home, nine humans, and 4 or 5 automobiles. Its a good thing to make your relationship a priority while the nest is still full.  

As Friday gets closer Im looking hard at season's past and trusting God as I hold close sweet memories of earlier days.  I am determined to live in the moments of now. Admittedly it seems like just yesterday that I was busy raising a family.  So where did the time go? 
"yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." James 4:14  We are not promised another day so I want to make the most of what I have left of this life.  I choose to live out the purpose God has for my life.  

It has been a wild beautiful ride.  And wow, it's hard for me to believe but my 30 year high school reunion is only months away.  However, there is no denying it when I look in the mirror and see how time has drawn its stories on my forehead and between my brows. Stories of love and hate. Stories of laughter and tears.  Stories of failure and redemption. 

I am grateful for all of them because I know God has used them all to weave tale of my life on His loom.  He isn't finished with me just yet because it's only Wednesday, but Friday is coming.

Fred & Red’s

Leftovers.  I have learned to enjoy eating leftovers.  If you can put them on tortilla chips or a potato for lunch the next day you've got a winner!  When you live on a budget there are undoubtedly going to be days when lunch is leftovers.  Today it just so happens to be day THREE of the same leftovers. The abundant amount of leftovers is the result of an idea The PreAcHer had when he caught sight of the coveted recipe for Fred and Red's Chili. 

Fred and Red's was a historic greasy spoon diner located in Joplin, Missouri until 3.5 years ago when the current owner retired.  Fred and Red's got its start in 1923 (if you don't know the story check it out on wikipedia)  I recall going there as a kid once with my dad.  He ordered spaghetti red for us  which I consumed ravenously.  My chin, my lips and the inside of my mouth were covered in that greasy delight. There was an impressive pile of napkins i used to wipe away the evidence, happy with my full belly yet unaware of the after effects I was going to forbear.  

If you are local and got to experience Fred and Red's then you know what I'm talking about.  For those of you that haven't - I spent the rest of the evening in the bathroom.  I never really forgot about that experience and had not eaten any Fred and Red's since that time- until this past weekend.  I'm happy to say my stomach is much more qualified (aged) to handle the amount of spiciness and the grease.  The recipe I used makes a huge amount of F & R's chili that can be used for nachos, coneys, spaghetti red, etc.  The PreAcHer copied it from a Facebook post and sent it to me (see below)
                              

  JoMo's Fred & Red's Spaghetti Red Chili - (no tomato) 

6 pounds ground beef (not chuck or ground round - do not drain)

3 (1 ounce) packages Williams Chili Seasoning

1 tablespoon crushed garlic

1 tablespoon cumin

4 teaspoons salt

1 (or 2) sleeves saltine crackers - crushed fine into cracker meal

Brown ground beef. Add the chili seasoning, garlic, cumin and salt. Simmer 15 minutes. Add 2 quarts water and cracker meal: simmer one hour.

Note: This recipe calls for one sleeve of saltine crackers; however two may be to your liking. The longer it simmers, the better it gets - a day or two in the fridge will mingle the flavors and produce an even better tasting chili.

Leftovers.  Breakfast.  Lunch.  Dinner.  Haha no not really, I didn't eat it for breakfast but it might have been kind of yummy mixed with scrambled eggs or hash browns.  After lunch today I decided to ziploc the remains and freeze them for another time.  And the next time I eat Fred and Red's Chili I will remember to remember the past and be thankful for things as simple as that day my dad and I ate together at that greasy diner that became a historic part of southwest Missouri. 

This is us...

So here we are 19 years strong. Life has bustled on and like never in the past, we sat Halloween night waiting for the rush of trick or treaters and watching the World Series (Go Royals!).  Feeling blessed and happy that we got to see some of our children and two of our sweet grandchildren in costume and of course Frank (the Boxer) made an appearance and wore Uncle Trigger (our VeRy old Lab) completely out. Later I got texts and an email with pictures of the other grandchildren to make the day complete.   Having an empty nest is a lot different than I imagined, after years of doing and being responsible for so many it's easy to become lazy and complacent spending hours literally doing nothing productive. As a matter of fact i feel very unprepared many a day because i have spent so little time getting my thoughts and plans mentally organized.  Too much time can be a foe. I find myself forgetting things that are important if i don't make a point to follow up and complete a task right away.  It gets tucked in a locked file in my mind and I forget it's even there.  I battle fickleness (out of sight - out of mind) I battle losing track of things because i put them exactly where i knew I wouldn't forget they were only to completely forget, where i put them. I know what you're thinking (this lady is getting old and doesn't want to admit it).  I tried to feign early alzheimer's to The PrEacHer today but he didn't buy it.  This post is to get me thinking.  To get me moving toward a goal i have to share information, to share news, to clear my foggy mind. Im not going to expect much from it starting out because honestly i can't really put two good thoughts together right now.  My mind is already spinning thinking of all the other things i should be doing instead of this.  However, God has done great and unbelievable things in me and I am so grateful i don't want to keep His goodness to myself.  It's good to recognize the changing seasons of life and embrace them.  This is going to be the best chapter yet.  So... here we are 19 years strong.